White cosmos

24 September 2026

Step-by-Step - Level ◆◆◆

Last month we painted a white goose, and explored how shadows on a white subject can be full of colour — blues, purples, pinks — rather than grey. Everything comes from reflected light, and the result feels so much more alive than a muddy grey wash ever could. I thought it would be fun to take that same idea into a completely different subject: a white flower.

Cosmos are perfect for this. The petals are simple and open, the composition lends itself beautifully to a loose, meditative approach, and once you've done one painting, you might find yourself making a whole series — different colour schemes for different seasons, or your own favourite palettes. The colours you choose for the background flow directly into the shadows on the petals, and there's not a drop of grey in sight.

And! No masking fluid needed. Just jump right in with colour.

Happy painting!